Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Assn. adds staff

Published: March 10, 2013 8:00AM

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- As part of its continuing effort to aid regional businesses in gaining access to the economic opportunities presented by the Marcellus and Utica shale, the leadership of the Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Association has added two staff members.

Lisa Duvall has been named as industry and community relations director, and Tricia Zaccagnini has been named as membership renewal and event manager.

"The impact of the Marcellus and Utica shale drilling is enormous in this region," said Matt Steele, OVOGA board president. "The mission of the OVOGA is to educate our members, provide networking opportunities and help businesses grow. Lisa and Tricia will play integral roles in this."

"The OVOGA is pleased to have professionals of this caliber join our team and help position our members in the forefront of the shale gas revolution," said Josh Gasber, vice president of the OVOGA board of directors.

"The shale industry represents a tremendous opportunity for this area," Duvall said, "and I look forward to helping members of the OVOGA make the connections that lead to growth."

"With the influx of oil- and gas-related companies and people in the Ohio Valley, I am proud to be a part of the OVOGA which promotes Valley businesses and organizations to those new residents," Zaccagnini said. "I find it an admirable concept and hope that through the OVOGA's efforts, local companies will see an increase in business."

A native of Belmont County, Duvall is a graduate of Bellaire High School and West Liberty State College with a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education. She was a reporter and associate local news editor at The Times Leader; field representative and press secretary for then-U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland and regional director for Gov. Strickland. She most recently managed a successful state-wide judicial campaign in West Virginia.

With the exception of her college years, Tricia (Lollini) Zaccagnini is a lifelong resident of the Ohio Valley. She is a graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor of science in communications, Wheeling Jesuit University with a master of business administration and is currently pursuing a teaching certificate. Prior to working for the OVOGA, Zaccagnini served as the public relations manager with the National Technology Transfer Center. Zaccagnini is also a coordinator with The Gala Group in Wheeling, WV, which provides quality wedding and event planning for the Upper Ohio Valley. She resides in Rayland, OH, with her husband, Neal.

The Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Association is a regional alliance of businesses whose mission is to support oil and gas production and distribution in the Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania areas through the use of local businesses and employees; to be a resource to match needs of the oil and gas producers and distributors with local providers and to be a resource for new business entities serving the oil and gas industry. Membership information may be found at www.ovoga.org.